Dimmer for auto-headlights.



E. G. NiTHRGW J. PA WEEKS, ummm Foa um HEADLiGH-fs. APPLlCATlON FiLED NOV.6,19.16.

PATENT FLOYD G. 'WITI-IROW AND JOHN P. WEEKS, 0F GRAND' RAPDS, lVIIC'i-IIGAN.

DMMER FOR AUTOHEADLIGHTS.

ineegeoe.

Specification of Letters ZPatent. Patient-,d Aug; 14:, 1917 Application 1aed november e, 191e. serial no. 129,736.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FLOYD Gr. l/Vrrnnow and JOHN P. WEEKS, citizens of the United States of America, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of ,Michigam have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dimmers for Auto- 'Headlights; and we do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact de scription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a construction for controlling and dimming the brilliancy of electric lights and is especially adapted for use with the headlights on motor vc* hicles. In operation of such vehicles at night through the citystreets or on meeting another vehicle it is desirable that the brilliancy or intensity of the light 'from the headlights be diminished. And our invention relates to a new and improved structure adapted to be interposed in the usual light ing circuit for attaining this end, it being possible through the structure which we have produced to have the lights either at their full or diminished intensity for any desired length of time. Another object and purpose of the invention resides in a construction o a new and improved device by' means of which this control may be attached at the upper end of a steering post substantially in the center of the steering wheel; and further in so constructing this mount that a resistance coil of high resistance wire used in dimming the lights may be cooled and kept from overheating or burning out. Other objects and purposes of the invention including many novel details of structure and operation will appear as complete understanding of the invention is had, reference beingA made to the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of the same in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic layout of a lighting system with our invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through our light control,

Fig. 8 is an under plan view of the same.

Fig. i is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a plan view with the upper housing and operating handle removed, and

Fig. 6 is an under plan view of the mem bei' shown in Fig. 5.

Like reference characters refer to like partsythroughout the several views of the draw'ingsY In the lighting system to which our invention maybe applied headlights l and 2. are connected by a wire 3 while from one of the headlights, as 2, a wire 4 leads to any suitable ground 5. A wire 6 leads from the other headlight having interposed therein any suitable form of make and break switch 7.

Our control device includes separated contact and binding post members 8 and 9, connected by a coil 10 of high resistance wire. Wire 6 is secured to post 8. From the post 9 a. wire 11 leads to any suitable source of electrical energy illustrated in the diagram as a dynamo 12. The circuit is completed by a wire 13 leading from the dynamo to the ground 14.

switch member 15 having oppositely projecting contacts l5L1 is rotatively mounted and may be operated by the handle 1G. The members 8 and 9 and member 15 are mounted upon a base 17 of suitable insulatingmaterial. The members S and 9 are located above the base while the coil 10 connected thereto at the ends passes through vertical openings 18 lformed in the base the major portion of suitable housing or cover 19 may be used to cover the upper mechanism of the control.

The base 1T is located above a cup-like member having sides 20 and bottom 21 from the center of which projects a boss 22 interiorly bored and threaded to permit its attachment to the upper screw threaded end of the steering post of motor vehicles, the usual nut 'threaded on such posts being removed.

Base 17 is permanently secured to this member by screws :23 passed down through holes 28 in the base and threaded into suitable openings in the bottom 21 of said member. The bottom 21 is iurther provided. with a plurality of comparatively large openings 24.

When the switch 7 is closed and the member 15 occupies the position shown in Fig. 1,

the current is passed through the resistance en ase with the ro'ectin contacts 8a and 9 of members and 9, a circuit is made which includes the member 15, the current lGO Vings 24 elloT the circulation of the oase 17 thereby cooling the coi..

venting any undesirable results on account of the heat generated.

We elainn- 1- l. ln u device of the character described, e switch including separater?. contact memberS, e resistance interposed between enfl connecting seid members, e base of insel ing material on 'the upper side of which said Contact members are located, e connecting member for said Contact, members mover" mounted on the base, seid resistance pf through the base at both ends and lily under the basejand'e, member eonneeiieci to sind below the base provided "with eenn -own wirr-cli y ro] eetl ng i'oi'ireo. with menne 5ft, silbetuntnilly lumi-actor described, a y. including :1, l :e of insulating inaltearated coi t members secured to n o-1tb.e Les@ e coil of high :Meistence wire located, eet een end. connecting the Contact member.' the major portion ci the coil being located bel w sind base with the ends passing 'through the base to the Contactmeinberfs, moi'eble connecting element rotetively mounted above the buse and #pflegte` to be moved to connect .bald Contact membere together, e cup-like member providecl in the bottom thereoif with n.fplurality of vent-iiating openings Secured to und below 'the bese, and ineens oireeicl member for ettari. the saine to t Support, .Substaik tiaily as described.

In 'testimony ifi/'hereof We ailix our signu- 

